Cape Girardeau, MO Road Trips
Drivers starting from Cape Girardeau, MO have 7 mapped routes to choose from, making it a small but connected base in the Midwest. Routes from here tend to cover serious ground — the average trip runs 331 miles, so plan for multi-day adventures. Most routes from Cape Girardeau, MO head west, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
7
Longest Drive
374 mi
Cameron, MO
Quickest Drive
5h 21m
Battlefield, MO
Plan Around Cape Girardeau, MO
Continue From Cape Girardeau, MO
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Cape Girardeau, MO
Cape Girardeau, MO to Cameron, MO
Cape Girardeau, MO to Peculiar, MO
Cape Girardeau, MO to Gladstone, MO
Cape Girardeau, MO to Nevada, MO
Cape Girardeau, MO to Oak Grove, MO
Cape Girardeau, MO to Battlefield, MO
Cape Girardeau, MO to Nixa, MO
Driving from Cape Girardeau, MO
On average, trips departing from Cape Girardeau, MO run 331 miles with a drive time of roughly 6h 27m. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 374 miles (7h 18m), while the shortest is just 271 miles.
Popular Destinations
The most popular drives from Cape Girardeau, MO include Cameron, MO (374 mi, 7h 18m), Peculiar, MO (368.4 mi, 7h 1m), Gladstone, MO (355.3 mi, 6h 52m), Nevada, MO (352.6 mi, 7h 8m), and Oak Grove, MO (324 mi, 6h 9m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in MO currently averages around $3.77 per gallon. For the typical 331-mile trip from Cape Girardeau, MO, budget about $49 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Most routes head west — leaving in the morning keeps the sun behind you for a more comfortable drive. These are full-day drives. Start by 7 or 8 AM if you want to arrive at a reasonable hour without rushing.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 7 mapped routes leaving Cape Girardeau, MO and 0 routes heading into Cape Girardeau, MO, covering 7 total connections. Distances range from 271 to 374 miles.
The longest mapped route from Cape Girardeau, MO covers 374 miles and takes approximately 7h 18m. Shorter options start at just 271 miles.
The average route from Cape Girardeau, MO runs about 331 miles with a drive time of roughly 6h 27m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.77/gallon for regular), the average 331-mile trip from Cape Girardeau, MO costs roughly $49 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Cape Girardeau, MO include Cameron, MO, Peculiar, MO, Gladstone, MO and Nevada, MO. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Cape Girardeau, MO by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
40,047
Median Income
$54,870
Median Home Value
$186,100
Median Age
34.2
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Cape Girardeau, MO at a Glance
Founded
1793
Elevation
351 ft
Area
28 mi²
Notable People from Cape Girardeau, MO
A sampling of people born in Cape Girardeau, MO.
Rush Limbaugh
1951–2021
American political commentator (1951–2021)
Linda M. Godwin
1952
American astronaut
Terry Jones
1951
American anti-Islamic right wing activist and the pastor of Dove World Outreach Center
Chic Hecht
1928–2006
American politician (1928-2006)
Billy Swan
1942
American musician and songwriter
Tony Spinner
1963
American musician
A. J. Ellis
1981
Major League Baseball catcher in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization
Jeffrey Alexander Sterling
2000
American CIA officer
Peter Kinder
1954
American lawyer and politician
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Cape Girardeau, MO.
Fort D
fort in Missouri
Old Lorimier Cemetery
historic cemetery in Cape Gurardeau County, Missouri
St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church
church building in Cape Girardeau, United States of America
Courthouse-Seminary Neighborhood Historic District
national historic district located at Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
Broadway Commercial Historic District
national historic district located at Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
Esquire Theater
former movie theater in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States
City data from Wikidata (Q866294), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Cape Girardeau, MO
Cape Girardeau is a city named after a French soldier/trader in southeastern Missouri. Watch out for murals and flood walls in this college town.
1 Mississippi River Tales Mural. a mural containing 24 panels illustrating the history of the area, the mural covers nearly 18,000 square feet on the downtown floodwall. (updated May 2021) 2 Fort D, 920 Fort St. A Civil War-era fort. (updated May 2021) Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge, MO-34. Cable stayed bridge across the Mississippi that is a Cape Girardeau landmark. Southeast Missouri State University, 1 University Plaza. Emphasis on arts. The Crisp Museum, 518 S Fountain St. Rotating art and history and archeology exhibits. Free classes occasionally. Tel: +1 573-651-2260. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa-Su 1PM-4PM, First Fridays open late. Cape River Heritage Museum, 538 Independence St. Small history museum about Cape Girardeau. Tel:+1 573-334-0405 or (800) 777-0068. Th-F Noon-4PM, Sa 11AM-4PM.
Century Casino Cape Girardeau, 777 Main St. Slots and entertainment and a nice view of the river. The Bedell Theater of Southeast Missouri State University The Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts of Southeast Missouri State Cape Girardeau Bike Trail Cape Girardeau County Park Conservation Center Cape Rock Park, E Cape Rock Dr. Fine views of Mississippi from this bluff. Hiking and biking. Riverfront Park Downtown Cape Girardeau, East Morgan St. Alongside the river.
Minglewood Brewery, 121 Broadway, They have fantastic pizzas and brew their own beer on site. Neat place in historic downtown Cape Girardeau. Dexter Queen, 1109 W Business U.S. 60, Dexter. Bbq. Broussard's Cajun Cuisine, 114 Main St. Cajun seafood and steak.
Rude Dog Pub, 123 North Main St. Spectrum Record Lounge, 113 Broadway St. Independence Place, 5 S Henderson Ave. Night club. D'ladium's, 1127 Broadway. 3:00-1:30. Arguably the best bar in Cape Girardeau. This is the place college students meet locals and alumni. Great atmosphere and has everything one looks for in a bar.
1 Courtyard by Marriott Cape Girardeau Downtown, 400 Broadway St. Downtown hotel. (updated May 2021) Fairfield by Marriott Cape Girardeau (Right off I-55, Exit 95), ☏ +1 573-388-8148. Check-in: 3pm, check-out: 11am. Brand new hotel right off I-55. Free hot breakfast and indoor salt water pool. (updated Dec 2024) Drury Suites Cape Girardeau, 3303 Campster Dr, ☏ +1 573-339-9500. Evening socials, indoor pool. $96 (Feb 2022). Drury Plaza Hotel Cape Girardeau Conference Center, 3351 Percy Dr, ☏ +1 573-334-7151. Breakfast, exercise room, indoor pool. $92 (Feb 2022). Pear Tree Inn Cape Girardeau West, 103 Cape W Pkwy, ☏ +1 573-651-3000. Hot breakfast, fitness center. $56 (Feb 2022). Pear Tree Inn Cape Girardeau Near the Medical Center, 3248 William St, ☏ +1 573-334-3000. Outdoor pool, some snacks and a breakfast. $57 (Feb 2022). Holiday Inn Express & Suites Cape Girardeau I-55, 3253 William St, ☏ +1 573-334-4491. Indoor pool, game room, breakfast. $96 (Feb 2022).
Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport has service on United Airlines to Chicago. I-55, Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge
Travel tips adapted from Cape Girardeau on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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